The Dickinson press., 1887-05-21
AT A NEGRO FUNERAL.
Ceremonies of Old Slavery Days Still
Prevailing in tho South.

Ceremonies of Old Slavery Days Stm
Prevailing in tho South.
Not long since was visiting one of the
towns in upper South Carolina. and a
fricml We're taking an afternoon stroll into
tho adjoining country. We had proceeded
somo distance, and were passing through
stopped and ncrvo,,sly inquired: "Nhat's
tl,at,' l camo to halt, and listened. A
weird, mournful sound foatedl through tho
trees and reached our ears 1t seemed to
come only short distance; appeared to en-
anate from the copse on the other sido of tho
road. We crossed over, and followed, bent
upon investigating what it was. We had
scarcely gained the opposite thickct when VIC
dobouchcd into one of those country burial
grounds which are to lie found near every
hamlet in South Carolina
1t was II strange picture that met our sight,
and one that belonged more to hcathen lands
than our own civilized country. There,
around newly made grave about twenty
five negroes were collected. They all held
hands and were slowly moving to and fro,
while they walled forth drges, and at inter-
walls would calculate wild, incohcrent words
In tho midst of tho circle, ut tho head of the
grave, nn old woman sat who rocked back
ward and forward. Her eyes rolled wildly.
aml She moved in n mechanical way This
was the wdowof tho deceased and it was her
reflllrellart i'll the ceremony to loudly moan
ut appointed intervals during the singing
Soinc'hins i'll this way thoir hymn sounded,
rs nearly as could catch the words:
De white horse he rode,
Wild de sickle in lie hand
And slew down our brll,llcr
From anoni; our earthly band.
y moan sister, moan!
And hero tho widow would reintrotluce her
licathcriSh incantations. These were kent I'M
for some time, when suddenly they ceased
and tho negroes prostratcd themselves upon
the ground, whilo tho minister, a tall, very
dark negro, stood and offered up prayer
After the "amen' was uttered they rose and
two of the number took from basket near
some articles with which they decorated tho
grave, ts if they were placing upon the tomb
floral offerings. They then slowly formed in
procession and silently marched out Of tho
inciosuro. Ny friend and |, curious to decide
what tho peculiar mode of grave decoration
was, proceeded to tho spot where an old man
was slioaI'lering his spatle to quit the place.
"Why, old man," said I, "wlat are those
things they have left on the gravel Bottles,
'''"" +" J"s, " ny "Htt1 'ocS III ull mc0nf'
"Well, boss" said the ebony grave digger,
with an air of importance, "you sec, we puts
dc articles dat de departed bruddcr ,lsc to uso
on de grnbc for to keep away dc bad sperrits,
and 'sposo it is II sort oh 'spectful way OBJ
treating do memory OLD de lost sister or br1d-
der. You see, 'lafs do bottle dat he take tho
medicine from wien he be sick And dars do
jug l. had dc last dram llp drunk 'foro he
joined dc temperance mcctin', an de boots I
'si'ps'' is do shoes dat he g:yine to change for
d" g"ldcn slippers dat he put on when he jne
d, ban up yandcr," and beam of placid
faith illuminated the old black face.
1t certainly was Il strange sight. Here wero
numberlcss graves, all bearing tho sa1no pict-
uresque decorations. Chldren's graves were
covered with broken toys, tin horns, gaudily
colored clay cats, dogs, and owls One mound
was almost beat to tho ground with age, and
Oh it rested in Gilapidation an old hat and tho
remnants of banjo, also clay pipe, and a
coon skin. Near by them was tho grave of a
blacksmith, with the implements of his craft
wedgrd in the ground and rusty horse shoes
formed circle around the mound. Atlanta
Constitution.